New houses are more energy efficient than ever. While this is ideal for keeping your energy expenses low, it’s not so great for introducing ample fresh air inside.
Recently built houses are firmly sealed, which means they don’t “breathe” like older residences can. Consequently, your house might begin to smell stuffy, feel too humid or experience issues with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they might experience increasing problems.
Thankfully, it’s not complicated to improve the ventilation in your home in Los Angeles. Many of the options that we’ll discuss shortly are simple and economical.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the easiest way to get fresh air into your house during mild temps. But it’s important to note this frequently isn’t a year-round possibility and can cause problems if someone in your home has seasonal allergies. If so, you don’t want to open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the highest, according to Mayo Clinic. You’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy conditions, as the weather can worsen allergies.
2. Turn on Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Running these fans eliminates stale air, excessive moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also economical to use. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to operate it 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re looking into this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly noiseless, uninterrupted operation. These fans usually include a sensor that will turn them on automatically when humidity is too high, so you won’t have to remember to turn it on or off.
However, it’s important to know that an exhaust fan can undesirably influence your residence’s temperature, since it’s getting rid of air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Home’s Humidity Even
The best humidity level for your house is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the correct percentage of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can boost your home’s indoor air quality and keep your household comfortable at a more energy-efficient temperature.
If the humidity is too low, you may have dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also affect wood flooring and furnishings in your residence, causing them to fracture. On the other hand, humidity that’s too great can make air feel stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and irritate allergies or asthma.
The smartest approach to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We offer humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your furnace and air conditioning system. You don’t need to transport an inefficient portable system from room to room, spilling water as you walk.
It’s also crucial to know the right humidity level can also make air more comfortable at an energy-efficient setting, helping you save more on energy expenses.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Installing a mechanical ventilation system is one of the smartest approaches to get added fresh air into your house throughout the year. There are two different styles—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly get rid of stale indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is good for cool climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it emits. ERV is good for humid areas, since it draws out warmth and moisture from your air. Some climates can benefit from both units, so ask our AZ Air Conditioning and Heating ventilation experts about what’s a good match for your Los Angeles residence.
If stale or lingering odors are a problem in your residence, you can also purchase a whole-house air purification system. These systems give an added level of filtration, which can also provide support with reducing pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your home.
Our ventilation pros are here to help you select the ideal option for your residence. Contact us at 800-296-5088 today for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your existing equipment and learn about your needs prior to providing our advice on the ideal possibilities to improve ventilation in your house.